Heading into the 151st running of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 16, horse racing has plenty of momentum despite a significant bombshell. While Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo is bypassing the middle jewel to target the Belmont Stakes in June, the race shapes up as wide open with fascinating storylines—particularly the locally based runner Taj Mahal and his wife-husband team of trainer Brittany Russell and jockey Sheldon Russell.
The race takes place at Laurel Park this year, with Pimlico's historic grounds undergoing a massive 400 million dollar redevelopment. That move only adds to the intrigue surrounding a field that will feature plenty of fresh faces who didn't run in Kentucky.
NBC Sports is providing comprehensive coverage throughout Preakness week, starting well before Saturday's main event. Here's everything you need to know to catch all the action.
Friday, May 15 gets things rolling with NBC Sports offering an hour-and-a-half preview show from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET. This will set the stage nicely for a full day of racing Saturday.
Saturday's coverage is extensive. The action kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Peacock with broadcasts of the Preakness undercard races. At 4 p.m. ET, the coverage transitions to NBC and Peacock, where it continues through 7:30 p.m. ET for more than six and a half hours of live racing from Laurel Park. The Preakness itself is scheduled to post at 7:01 p.m. ET.
Several marquee stakes races fill out the weekend card. On Friday, May 15, catch the George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at 5:17 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Peacock, the Pimlico Special Stakes at 4:48 p.m. ET on the same channels, and the Miss Preakness Stakes at 2:52 p.m. ET on FanDuel TV. Saturday's supporting card includes the Maryland Sprint Stakes at 2:48 p.m. ET, the Dinner Party Stakes at 4:11 p.m. ET, and the Gallorette Stakes at 4:53 p.m. ET, all on NBC and Peacock. The Louisville Stakes rounds out the evening at 9:39 p.m. ET on FanDuel TV.
If you prefer traditional television coverage beyond NBC, FS2 will air “America's Day at the Races” from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, giving you another viewing option for the undercard action.
For those planning to attend in person, Laurel Park will offer suites, turfside terraces, and various levels of seating throughout the weekend. The post position draw, which offers insight into the field composition, will be streamed live on Preakness.com and the Maryland Racing YouTube channel rather than broadcast on traditional television.
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via Wikimedia Commons by Maryland GovPics with usage type - Creative Commons License
